Discussion Boards I care for...
direct payments etc
- By happyasadeadcat
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Fri 22 Feb 2008 17:49
Finally after 2 carers assessments in 2 years, I have been awarded 4 hours respite care a week. I had a home visit from someone from a care agency and I am so shocked by her visit. She was with me for an hour, she completed page after page of 'care' needs, then told me the cost was £16 an hour!! After she had gone I realised that at no time did she ask me anything about my daughters' personality, likes and dislikes etc!
Is this normal? I have to use the agency for a one off but don't feel I want to use them regularly. This whole direct payments thing is proving to be very involved, difficult and time consuming and all for 4 hours a week. Is it worth it?
Replies
- By nat38
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Re: direct payments etc
Fri 22 Feb 2008 18:53im sorry to hhear you have to go through a lot of stuff i dont recall having to do that you will tell whoever you decide to employ all the fine details and i find it a good thing but have a fantastic carer my daughter is only 14 and her worker is 24 she has had the same worker for 5 yrs and has a fantastic relationship i do hear lots of stories though about people not finding good reliable people good luck
natalie
- By marie66
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Re: direct payments etc
Sun 24 Feb 2008 22:58We got an agency here that support the employers using DP, they help you find someone siutable if you want and sort out the payroll stuff too!
marie x
- By KenM
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Re: direct payments etc
Mon 25 Feb 2008 08:20I too have just recently started to employ somebody from an agency. The initial visit from the agency was all about health and safety for their employee They apparently have to go through all these forms even though most of the detail does not apply-health and safety now comes above the care in the list of priorities.
The Direct payment is not the problem---finding suitable care is the difficult bit and will only get worse -as more and more DPs are pushed onto people needing help.
Ken
- By happyasadeadcat
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Re: direct payments etc
Mon 25 Feb 2008 08:42The woman that came from the agency kept telling me about her bad back and how she had stress incontinence!! She also told me that my daughters' dog would have to stay in the garden - I have decided not to use this agency in future.
As an update I contacted our local vicar who suggested a lady from church who works with the youth group, she is coming today to meet us and sounded really nice on the phone so fingers crossed.
I think DP works well in theory but is a lot of extra work on top of caring responsibilities, it's as if we have nothing better to do with our time!
- By morello
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Re: direct payments etc
Mon 25 Feb 2008 14:56I was going to employ somebody from an agency , my sw said Mencap. Thats a laugh, they charge double what they pay their staff plus you get invoiced for petrol and food, as they are not allowed to be in charge of money(very trustworthy) for a charity I would say they are getting a nice little earner from DPs. I was lucky enough to find somebody through a friend of a friend, but you can use your Direct Payment Money to advertise and then check they have the right documents- police checks etc. Its very hit and miss and taked even more work from our overpaid and underworked and pretty useless social workers. Who as well get a nice wage for doing sweet you know what. If you ring the Direct Payment department of your local council, they are always very helpful and can advise you. Better to find a self employed as you dont have to bother with tax and insurance , and the basic paperwork is ok. Just another thing we have to do for nothing hey, my goodness they have a load of skilled carers who can multitask and they dont know it. What a joke.
Mo
- By goddess57
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Re: direct payments etc
Mon 25 Feb 2008 15:04Hi there,
Direct Payments are good in one way bad in othe ways,If you are only getting 4hours a week ,you wouldnt worry to much about the tax and insurance for all they would be getting you could check out that bit to see how it works out ,because they wouldnt be earning enough to be taxed on due to you only needing 4hours help per week.Good luck on getting some one suitable. caroline.
- By angelica
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Re: direct payments etc
Mon 25 Feb 2008 16:21Hi All
I currently get 10 hours a week respite, some from Crossroads and some from a voluntary organisation that provides community support for people with a brain injury. Both offer a high quality service but are not very flexible. I have considered Direct Payments as it could provide a more flexible respite service but was concerned about what happens if you are employing someone who is self employed and they are ill or what happens if you are not happy with them. Employment law is a minefield. Has anyone had any experience of this?
Angel
- By angelica
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Re: direct payments etc
Mon 25 Feb 2008 16:26P.S. If they are self -employed does it mean as you are not technically their employer they don't have employment rights? ie if they're sick they don't get paid?